My New Crusade

I am beginning another chapter in my life -doing something I never thought I'd do.
If fact, if you know me at all, you know that this is not something I would ever do - willingly.
But I am beginning to see that the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks.
So as I do all things in life, it's all or nothing.

I joined Gold's Gym.

I'll give you a moment to recuperate.

It's called 'working out.'

And I am horrible at it.

1. Because I went to a private school and have never really set foot in a gym before this week.
2. Because I am a practical person who likes to busy herself with productive things - and until recently I have viewed working out as a frivolity that I could not afford myself.

Then, I took a "Real Age" test online. Foolish move on my part. I was thinking, 'I'm nearly 29. I don't work out or drink the right amount of water. I'll probably be 35 or something...'

Wrongo.

My 'real age' was 47.
Ouch! I'm nearly as old as my mom - sorry mom...

That realization coupled with a family history of diabetes and heart related illnesses pushed me over the edge.

I decided to do something about it. But because I know myself, I knew it had to be a commitment. It also had to cost me something. Something I couldn't afford to waste. Money.

The only thing I hate worse than not being able to fit into half the clothes in my closet is wasting money.

So...
I have begun.

"Tell me how good my life is."

Those were the words that I answered the phone with this evening when my husband called.

The truth is - I already know how good I have it. I am blessed far beyond anything I deserve.

But.

Things can get hairy.

Right now, I have two kids with Strep throat. I am working a lot this week. Two part-time jobs can feel all-consuming. Chris has NO days off this week. He will put in at least 85 hours, not counting product inventory and employee schedules. Poor hunny. It feels like a lot. It almost feels like I won't be able to handle it.

But.

Every time I really get into a bind, there is help for me. Whether it is tangible, practical help from my parents, husband, or a friend, or if the problem works itself out - there is always help for me.

There are also times that the dilemma cannot be solved by simple, practical aid - those are the times I have to hunker down and really dig deep to find out what must be done to solve the problem.
Like failure to connect with God. His lines of communication are always accessible to me, so when there's a glitch, I know where to look for the breakdown.

Honest introspection.

I finally dealt with a little 6-years long glitch this week.

Each time I would get into an atmosphere of absolute submersion in His Presence, this glitch would come to my remembrance, causing the seamless and beautiful moment with my Lord to jolt to a halt.

The worst part? The hang-up that kept me from really sinking my teeth into the goodness of God and worshipping with abandon was NOT REALLY A BIG DEAL. I mean, it did take a moment of vulnerability and a confession of sorts, so it wasn't a cakewalk. But ultimately, it is no longer an issue.

So tell me how good my life is.

To be hopelessly unworthy and brought to repentance. To be forgiven. To be acceptable and wholly accepted. All in less than one breath.

Thank You, Jesus!

Hair drama, lack of sleep, and sick kids.

Last night, Wendy was very kind to re-highlight my hair. I liked what she did the first time, but I wanted a tad more oompf.
Oompf I got!

I got to bed late last night. I like to call it 'Stupid:30.'

Then it turned out that J. got sick in the night. So there was little sleep to be had...
It is always amazing how very sick the little ones can get so quickly.
When I am getting sick, I usually know days ahead of time. With kids, it's boom - take 'em to the doctor.

So I sat in the waiting room of a clinic with him most of the afternoon and found out that he has strep throat.

He got a shot in the hiney and 10 days worth of antibiotics, so I would imagine that he'll be feeling better in no time.

Tomorrow, I will call our pediatrician to find out what to do about little sister who has been complaining of having "Owies" in her throat...

Round 2.

Tomorrow marks the start of the last week of summer school. After that, it really will be summer. All the way summer.

And if those of you who know me well enough to know that the Oompf in my hair was slightly beyond my thresh hold for change - Yes, I have already tweaked it to make it more subtle.
I still look like a rock star - just a slightly less Oompfy one.


**************** Additional Information****************
I need to specify that Wendy did a fantastic job on my hair BOTH times she highlighted it. I have been notoriously skiddish about doing things to my hair. My policy on makeovers is to do as little as possible and maybe it will be slightly noticeable. I decided, momentarily, to take a walk on the wild side - ok, let's be honest - the slightly-less-tame-but-still-not-wild side. I couldn't handle it.
As for the job Wendy did, it was really, really good.

Idiots on Parade.

If you had posted an application with your local ISD...
If you had known for a long time that your financial situation might demand full-time employment...
If you were one of few applicants who was 'certified' to fill one of two openings in your district...

If all of these things were true of you and your situation...

Then,
If a certain principal showed up at your school because (as a twist of fate) you have been teaching his son at summer school and have gotten along famously... That certain principal is ready to interview you for his opening and offers to pull your application and get started on it right away.

Would you then look at him and say, "I didn't apply for your opening. I'm honestly not interested.?"

No. I didn't think you would. You're probably not an idiot.

But sometimes the truth is hard. That truth was hard for that moment, but perhaps it spared me a very hard school year. If I had gotten in the way of things and taken a position that wasn't right for my family or myself, who knows what could have happened.
I feel a great amount of peace that when it happens, my whole family will be 'on board.'

I want to teach. No, I want to succeed in teaching. I want to make a career out of it.
My definition of a career does not begin with a full out belly flop as a middle school orchestra teacher.
I don't even think I could tell you 4 things about teaching orchestra.

So I'm an idiot. An idiot with no regrets.

expressing my outrage

i have been cleaning our school for a couple of months now. juggling kids, my regular job, and chris' job. it hasn't been exactly easy, but i have tried to keep the attitude that it is a blessing. i have rarely deviated from that perspective.

tonight was deemed a night for deviation.

it is not as though anything was different from the norm - i simply got angry because of something that just isn't right.

so here i am, expressing my outrage.

there is a sandbox. it is roughly 5 feet square and 8 or 9 inches deep.
it is inside a classroom atop carpet. reread that last sentence, for therein lies my gripe.

i guess that preschool aged children view an indoor sandbox as a sort of anomaly because they are drawn to it on a level far above your average outdoor sandbox.

sand gets everywhere.

i think there is an invisible sign that says, 'party in the sandbox at 12:15.'

regardless, i am not one to squelch good, clean fun.

it's the fun that creates a dune 4 feet away from the sandbox to which i am opposed.

every day i sweep the sand into a dust pan and i throw it away.
yes, i throw each panful away - yet, in the dead of the summer, more sand appears.

sand. gets. everywhere.


i'm gonna level with you. there is no vacuum cleaner known to woman, no matter how much it sucks (and by "sucks" i mean the ordinary function of a vacuum cleaner) that can manage to extract sand from carpet. it is an exercise in futility.

my expression of outrage ends as i vow not to lose my christianity over this indoor sandbox.

i did, however, have to move the guy who invented pantyhose down a notch on my 'things i hate' list to make room for 'whoever thought it would be a cool idea to have an indoor sandbox at a preschool.'

POPS

Just so you know, I did not end up auditioning for POPS. I chumped out.
And I am glad. For me, it is a better thing not to do something if you cannot devote all the attention it needs. Blah. Blah. blabber. blabber. So there - I'll admit it - I'm a scaredy cat.

shaking things up a bit...

*playdate at my house on Thursday morning.

**10:30 am to roughly 12:30ish. I was thinking we could go our separate ways at our kids' various lunchtimes...

***bring a suit for the kids (and yourself, if you're brave).

The weather is expected to be hot and dry so I thought an earlier outside time would work best.


If anyone has a hankering to bring cookies or a snack, feel free.
Otherwise, we will have the ol' standby: capri suns, popsicles, maybe a watermelon, bottled water, and lots of conversation.

Esther, I know I said I would call you and discuss which day would work better. Something came up on Friday - making Thursday my only option. I hope that's ok.

Can't wait to see all your sunblocked selves in my backyard!!